Key punching machine



Aug. 16, 1966 C. B. lCOX ETAL KEY PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 20, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet l CL/FFORD B. 60X, HORST l/l/. W/CH 5)/ THE/E ATTORNEYS HAR/ws, K/Ecff, RUSSE/.1. KERN Allg. 16, 1966 Q Q COX ETAL A 3,266,358

` KEY PUNCHING MACHINE Filed Jan. 2C, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 5, FIG. .9.

l/ Av: HIV/7 5774/3@ 6/ 76 /00 176 5 /0695 INVENTORS. CUF/FORD B. Cox, HORST l/V rVl//CH BY THE/2 ATTORNEYS #Aeg/s, r/Ech', RUSSE/.1. KERN United States Patent O 3,266,358 KEY PUNCHING MACHENE Clifford B. Cox, 917 Buena Vista, and Horst W. Wish, 62l Park, both of South Pasadena, Calif. Filed Jan. 20, 1964, Ser. No. 338325 17 Claims. (Cl. 83-225) Our invention relates to key punching machines and more particularly to a machine in which a key blank can be punched to `duplicate an existing key either by measurement of the notches of an existing key or following a coding thereof impressed on the key -or some record card pertaining yto Ithe key.

The depth of each notch in an existing key can be measured by a known gauge in terms ofunits usually ranging from 1 to l0. In some instances a number is stamped on the existing key with digits representing the depth of the succeeding notches of the series. In many instances, as in hotels 4or banks where large numbers of locks of similar manufacture are used, lthe notch depths are recorded on a card kept in a card file. It is an object of the present invention to provide a machine in which `a key blank can be placed and in which notches of selected depth can be punched in sequence, the depth of each notch -being determined by dialing an appropriate number determined by measurement of an existing key, Yby vthe correspondingrdigit of a number stamped on an existing key or by .reference to some card or file in which the depths and sequence of the key notches are recorded.

There has been a long felt need for a machine of this type that could be placed in the hands of banks, building establishments, motels, etc., to duplicate keys for an existing set of locks of uniform manufacture but set with different combinations. It is yan object of the invention to provide a machine for these or other uses which can yaccurately duplicate or produce keys having notches of known depths. A further object is t-o produce a machine of this` type which is extremely sturdy and foolproof yet which can be economically produced.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this ytype in which the key blank is advanced past a punch station in step-by-step fashion `and in which a spring is applied to `shift the key Vand its mount between actuations of 'the machine. A further object of the invention is to provide a machine of this type in which a key blank is inserted in a carriage-type holder and advanced to an extreme Vposition in which a portion of the blank closest to the enlarged lhead of the key blank is first disposed at the punch station. Successive actuations of the punch are correlated with an escapement means advancing the key blank to dispose adjacent the punching station `por-tions of the key blank successively toward its tip.

In conjunction with the above or other key-advancing mechanisms it is an object of the invention to provide a punch means and a Vnovel means for effecting relative lateral movement between the punch means and the key blank to produce notches of different depth .along the blank. :In this connection it is an object `of the invention Ito provide a mechanism accurately relating the lateral position of the punch means to a dial containing markingsor graduations corresponding to different notch depths desired.

Furtherobjectsand ladvantages of the invention will be evident to .those skilled in the art from the following description of an -exemplary embodiment.

Referring to .the drawings:

FIG. l is a side elevational view of the key punching mach-ine with portions of its housing suggested in dotted lines;

FIG. 2 is 4a horizontal sectional View taken along the line .ZZof FIG. l;

3,266,358 Patented August i6, 1966 ICC FIG. 3 is a vertical fragmentary sectional view taken along the line 3-3 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a transverse vertical sectional view taken along the line 4 4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a horizontal sectional view taken along the `line 5-5 of FIG. 1 showing the key blank in the position in which it is inserted;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary horizontal sectional view similar to FIG. 5 but showing the .key blank advanced to its initial -or starting position;

FIG. 7 is a view .simil-ar to FIG. 6 showing the key blank advanced to a succeeding position;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary longitudinal sectional view taken along the line 8 8 of FIG. 7 showing the escapement means in one position;

FIG. `9 is a view similar to FIG. 8 showing the escapement means in another position; and

FIG. l0 is a fragmentary vertical sectional view taken in the direction of the arrow 10 of FIG. 4.

As exemplified, the invention includes a frame structure providing a base member 12 to which is attached two upstanding post members 13 and 14. Journalled to turn in these post members is a sleeveatype bearing member shown as a floating bearing sleeve 16 locked against axial movement by any suitable means such as a split ring or U-shaped member 18 slipped transversely into 4a peripheral groove at the corresponding end of the sleeve and separated from the adjacent Vpost member by a washer 20.

Surrounding the bearing sleeve 16 is an eccentric cam 2l which may be fixed to the bearing sleeve 16 but which is preferably Vjournalled thereon if this sleeve is in effect a floating sleeve. Att-ached tothe eccentric cam 21 is an actuating member 22 having an operating handle 24 protruding through a handle slot 25 of a Ahousing 26. Portions of this housing are shown in phantom 'lines in FIGS. l and 2. This housing has .a ,larger key-inserting slot 27 toward its rearward end functioning to give access to the mechanism for holding the key blank, as will vbe described.

The handle 24 and the actuating member 22 move between full-line and dotted-line positions of FIG. l while being biased toward full-line position by a spring 28 connected between the base member 12 and a peripheral portion of the actuating member 22. The full-line `position is determined by engagement of a peripheral shoulder of the actuating member 22 with an adjustable stop post 29 connected to the base member 12. The dotted-'line position is limited when another shoulder of the actuating member 22 eng-ages an adjustable stop 30 formed kby a bolt threaded through a vblock 31 attached to the post member 14.

The invention includes means for advancing a key blank step by step past a punch station, together with means at the punch station for punching key notches of various depth in the key blank. 'Ihe latter includes .a punch means comprising a punch member 32, exemplified in FIGS. 4-7 as of square cross-section, and a die member 34 constructed as best shown in FIG. 4. The die member 34 has a vertical passage 3S sized to slidably receive the punch member 32. A lateral slot 36 divides the passage 35 into an upper guide section and a `lower punch section providing a shear edge 37. The lateral slot 36 is of a depth somewhat greater than vthe thickness of the key blank. The lower ,end .of the punch member 32 is preferably angled as shown and provides a shear edge 38 cooperating with the edge 37 when the fpunch member is lowered to shear or punch a `notch in a key yblank extending into the slot 36.

An eccentric ring 39 surrounds the eccentric `cam .21 being held against lateral displacement by a collar 40. The upper end of the .punch member 32 is suitably connected to the Veccentric ring. As shown in FIG. l0, the eccentric ring 39 is preferably a four-sided block with way members 41 and 41a attached thereto to form a T-shaped way extending transversely and substantially parallel to the axis of the bearing sleeve y16. A peripheral groove in the upper end of the Vpunch member 32 provides a head 42 in the key-shaped way, permitting the punch.

member 32 to move laterally relative to the eccentric cam 21.

The punch member 32 and the die member 34 move laterally together under the action of a depth control means that controls the depth of the notch to be punched in the key blank. In this respect the die member 34 protrudes through a slot 44 (FIG. l) in the post member 14 and slides in a lateral way provided by way members 46 and 46a attached to the base member 12. That portion of the die member 34 outside the post member 14 provides an upwardly extending operating member shown as a block 48 having an internally threaded passage 49 (FIG. 2) receiving a threaded portion 50 of a control dial 52 positioned outside the housing 26. This control dial is xed to a shaft 54 journalled interiorly of the bearing sleeve 16.

The opposite end of the shaft 54 carries a control dial 56 protruding from the other side of the housing 26. It carries an indexing means, shown as including a springloaded ball 57 acting as a detent when dropping into each of a series of pockets 58 arranged circularly around the shaft 54. Ten of the pockets 58 are preferably provided in the circular arrangement, stopping the control dials 52 and 56 at any one of the ten index positions. Index markings or graduations 59 are applied to these control dials to indicate the existing lateral position of the punch means. These graduations are usually applied on the peripheral face of the dials, as suggested at the top of FIG. 2 as concerns the control dial 56, but can be placed on the outer face thereof or duplicated thereon as suggested in FIG. 1. The dials 52 and 56 can be turned to bring any one of the graduations 59 opposite an index member 59a attached to the corresponding post member, to the block 48 or to the housing 26.

The block 48 is preferably split from its periphery to its threaded passage 49 and provided with a clamp screw 60 which can be adjusted to exert any desired frictional restraint on the turning of the control dials. The threads in the passage 49 and on the threaded portion 50 are designed to advance the punch membetr 32 and the die member 34 to give the desired depth of notches in the key blank.

The invention includes a key carriage 61 movable in a fore-and-aft direction in longitudinal ways 62 while carrying a key blank 64 with its sloping tip 65 forwardly and its head 66 rearwardly, the key blank providing a shoulder 67 between the blade and the head thereof. Way members 68 and 69 protrude forwardly different distances and are attached to the base member 12 by screws 70 to form the lonngitudinal ways 62. The rear end of the key carriage 61 is grooved to slide along the way members 68 :and 69 lbut the forward section of the key carriage is narrowed to clear the punching station. This narrowed forward section forms a key-holding member 72 (FIG. 3) and provides a groove 73 receiving the lip of a forward way member 74 (FIGS. 2 and 5-7) constructed and attached as :are the way members 68 and 69. The forward way member 74 anchors the forward end of the key carriage against lateral displacement during the punching operation.

The key-holding member 72 of the key carriage is also guided by a pin 76 attached to an anchor member 77 and slidable in a bore 78 of the member 72. A spring 79 surrounds the pin 76 and biases the key carriage against movement from its rear or starting position in FIGS. 4 and to its extreme forward position in FIG. 6.

The key blank 64 is slid into the aforesaid pocket of the key carriage with its blade resting on a shoulder 80 (FIG. 3) of the key-holding member 72, being held thereagainst and against the body of the member 72 by an offset blade 81 fitting in a longitudinal groove of the key blank and attached to the member 72 by screws 82. The key blank 64 is pushed forward along the shoulder 80 until its shoulder 67 engages a forward portion of the key-holding member 72. It is often desirable to provide an adjustable stop at this point, e.g. a screw 83 may be threaded an adjustable distance into the member 72 with its end forming the stop for the shoulder 67 of the key blank. When inserted, the key blank is locked in place by lowering a lock member 84 back of the head 66. This lock member 04 may be pivoted about a pin 85 to swing from an upper key-receiving position shown in dotted lines in FIG. l to a lower key-locking position shown in full lines therein. It is held in its lower position by a spring-loaded detent member 86 and is liftable by nger pressure applied to its free end.

The key carriage 61 and its attached key blank are shifted from the aforesaid rear or starting position to the extreme forward position of FIG. 6 preparatory to punching the key advancing in the slot 36 with the punch member 32 raised. An escapement means is provided, actuated by this forward motion. This means should preferably be of the positive-lock type. As shown, the forward end of the key-holding member 72 provides a shallow portion with indexing openings or holes 90 drilled therethrough and spaced to correspond to the spacing of lthe key notches to be punched. As shown for example in FIG. 5, a groove 91 is formed in the top of the key-holding member 72 inwardly of the holes but has a groove pocket 92 extending to the forward hole of the series and a sloping wall 93 leading into the open rear end of the groove 91.

An escapement .member 95 is vertically movable in ways provided by way members 96 `and 96a (FIGS. 5, 8 and 9) attached to the post member |13. It is vertically moved in response to movement of the handle 24, being shown as providing a slot 97 receiving a pin 98 of a member 99 attached -to the .face of the 'eccentric cam 21 (FIGS. 2 and 4). The escapement member 95 has lower and upper flanges 100 and 101 respectively above and below the shallow portion of the key-holding member 72. An indexing pin `102 extends upward from the lower flange 100 and rises to enter one of the holes 90 as the handle 24 is lowered, thus further locking the key carriage preparatory to the punching operation. An upper indexing pin -104 depends below the upper ilange 101 through a slot 105 therein, being carried by an indexing latch member 106 that is biased rearwardly by a spring 107. The indexing latch member .106 can slide and turn in contact with the upper face of the upper flange |101 as permitted by a bolt y108 extending through a slot 109 of the latch member 106.

The escapement means functions in the dual capacity of latching the key ycarriage initially in its extreme forward position an-d in permitting it to return step by step past the punch station under the action of the spring. When the key carriage is manually pushed forward toward its extreme forward position of FIG. 6 the sloping wall 93 engages the depending indexing pin 104 guiding the latter into the groove 91. The spring 107 swings the latch member 106 to shift its pin I104 into the groove pocket 92 to latch the key carriage 61 in its extreme forward position.

At this time the area of the key blank that is to receive the notch closest to the head 66 is at the punch station. The operator turns the control dials 52, 56 to the desired digit representing the selected depth of the drst notch. As t-he handle 24 is pressed downward the lower pin 102 -rises into the corresponding hole 90 and the punch member 32 and die member 34 shear from the key :blank the Ifirst notch. During this motion the esca-pement member 95 lifts the upper pin 104 from the groove pocket 92, leaving the key blank anchored by the lower pin 102. As soon as the upper pin 104 clears the groove pocket the spring .107 snaps the latch member 106 rearward to its position shown in FIGS. 5 and 9 in which the upper pin lies above the next hole 90. The position at which the latch member stops is determined by engagement between the bolt '108 and the end wall of its slot i109 and preferably also by engagement between the upper pin 104 and the end Wall of its slot 105. A-s the handle -24 is raised to raise the punch member 312 the upper pin 104 enters the aforesaid next hole 90 before the lower pin 102 is withdrawn from its hole. As soon `as the lower pin 102 clears its hole the spring 79 moves .the key carriage rearward-ly one step, carrying the upper pin 104 and the latch member 106 with it, Ithe movement of the key carriage being limited by the engagement between the bolt 108 and lthe other end wall of its slot 109 and preferably also by engagement between the upper pin 104 .and the other end Wall of its slot 105, see FIGS. 7 and 8. The key blank is thus moved to its next notch position p-reparatory to resetting of the control dials 52 and 56 for the desired depth of the next notch.

In this way the key blank is advanced stepV by step past the punching station for successively forming the notches of selected depth, the punched-out portions of the key blank dropping to the support surface above which the base member '12 is supported or collecting in any receptacle, not sho-Wn, in the space therebetween. At the end of the punching operation and when the upperpin `,104 no longer lits into any h ole 90 to restrain the key carriage Ithe latter snaps to its extreme rearward position and the now-cut key can be lifted therefrom.

Various changes and modifications app-arent to those skilled in the art can be made in the machine without departing `from the spirit of the invention `as deiined in t-he appended claims.

We claim: 1. In a key punching machine the combination of: a frame structure providing a punch station;

`a die member at said'punch station; a punch member at said punch station movable relative t-o said die member; a key carriage having means for retain-ing a key blank thereon; means for mounting said key carriage for longitudinal advancement to 4advance said key blank past said punch station; i operating means for relatively moving said die and -punch members `in shearing Irelation with said key blank to punch a notch therein; means responsive to movement of said operating means rfo-r advancing said key carriage step-'by-step past said punch station, ysaid last-mentioned means including ya spring biasing sai-d key carriage -to move said key carriage and the key blank longitudinally past said punch member and an escapement means controlling the step-'by-step movement of said key carriage under the biasing action of `said spring; and .means for changing the relative `lateral position of said key blank and said die and punch members that are at said punch station -to vary Ithe depth of the notch punched in said key blank by said die and .punch members. `2. A key punching machine -as defined in claim 1 in which said escapement means includes a plurality of openings in said key carriage, an escapement member operatively connected to said operating means and movable thereby, and two indexing pins operatively associ-ated with said escapement member and sized to enter said openings. V3a. A key punching machine as deined in claim 2 in which said openings are upright and have open upper and lower ends, and in which said two indexing pins include a lower index-ing pin carried by said escapement member movable upwardly into the open lower ends of said openings in sequence and an upper depending index pin operatively connected to said escapement member movable downwardly into ythe open upper ends of said openings in sequence.

4. A key punching machine as defined in claim 1 in which said escapement means includes a plurality of openings in said key carriage spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of movement thereof, an escapement member operatively connected to said operating means to be moved thereby, and an indexing pin on said escapement member entering one of said openings to lock said key carriage against movement during punching of said notch in said key blank, said escapement member withdrawing said indexing pin from said one off said openings to permit said key carriage to advance longitudinally under the action of said spring, said escapement means including means for stopping such `advance of said key carriage with the next of said openings in registry with said indexing pin.

5. A key pun-ching machine as defined in claim 1 in which said escapement means includes a plurality of openings in said key carriage spaced from each other in the longi-tudinal direction of movement thereof, an escapement .member operatively connected to said operating means to be moved vertically thereby, said escapement member providing upper and lower flanges lrespectively above and below said key carriage, a first indexing pin carrie-dby one of said flanges entering one of said openings to lock said key carriage against movement during punching of a notch in said key blank, the other of said flanges providing a slot -therein opposite said openings, and an indexing latch member slidable relative `to said other liange and having a second indexing pin extending through said slot to enter one of said openings prior to withdrawal of said lirst indexing pin from its opening, said slot permitting movement of said second indexing pin therein yto move said latch member to a carriage-stopping position at which said first indexing pin is opp-osite another of said openings.

6. A key punching machine as dei'ined in claim 5 including a spring means for biasing said latch member to displace its second indexing pin toward one end of said slot in sai-d other of said flanges.

7. A key punching machine as defined in claim 5 in which said latch member includes a slot, a bolt extending through said slot of said latch member into said other of said flanges limiting the m-otion of said latch member relative to this flange, and a spring means for biasing said latch member to displace its second indexing pin toward one end of said slot in said other of said ilanges.

8. In a key punching machine the combination of:

a frame structure providing a punch station;

a die member at said punch station;

a punch member at said punch station movable relative to said die member;

operating means for relatively moving said die and `punch members in shearing relation;

a key carriage having a key-blank-reta-ining means;

means for mounting said key carriage for longitudinal advancement from a rearward position in which said key-blank-retaining means is exposed for receipt of a key blank to a forward position in which sai-d keyblank-retaining means is adjacent said punch station; a spring biasing said key carriage toward said rearward position, said key carriage being manually advanceable longitudinally to said forward position against `the action olf said spring;

a lat-ch means latching said key carriage in said forward position; an escapement means for controlling in a step-by-step manner the movement of said key carriage toward said rearward position un-der the action of said spring;

means operatively connecting said operating means and said es-capement means; and

means for changing the relative later-al position of said key blank and said die and punch members tha-t are at said punch station to vary the depth of the notch punched in said key blank by said die and punch members.

9. A key punching machine as defined in claim 8 in which said` escapement means includes a series of openings in said key carriage spaced from each other in the longitudinal direction of movement thereof, said key carriage providing a groove ending in a groove pocket adjacent the rearward opening of Ithe series, said groove being laterally spaced from the other openings of said series, said escapement means including an esca-pement member having a flange `disposed opposite at least some of said openings, said latch means including a latch member and a pin carried thereby, said pin advancing along said groove to said groove pocket upon advancement of said key carriage to said forward position.

10. A key punching machine as defined in claim 9 including a spring biasing said latch member to move said pin into said groove pocket, said escapement member being movable to displace said pin vertically from said groove pocket to release said key carriage.

11. In a key punching machine the combination of:

a Iframe structure providing spaced post members and a punch station therebetween;

longitudinal way members on said frame structure;

a key carriage slidable longitudinally along sai-d longitudinal way members, said carriage 'having a keyblank-retaining means for retaining a lkey blank and for moving same past said punch station;

a shaft traversing the yspace between said post members;

a control dia'l on at least one end of said shaft;

lateral Way members extending laterally of said frame structure;

a die member movable along said lateral way mem-bers;

an eccentric cam rotatable about the axis of said shaft;

an eccentric ring surrounding said eccentric cam ,be-

tween said post members;

a punch member movable laterally with said die member and operatively connected to said eccentric ring, said die and punch members being at said punch station;

means operatively connecting said control dial `and said -die member to `adjust the position `of said die and punch members relative to the longitudinal path of said key carriage;

a handle operatively connected to said eccentric cam Ifor turning same about said axis of said shaft and thereby moving said punch and die members in shearing relation; and

an escapement means opera-tively connected to said handle and said key carriage for advancing the latter step by step past said punch station.

12. A key punching machine as dened in claim 11 wherein said escapement means includes a spring `for biasing said key carriage to move said key carriage and the key blank longitudinally past said punch member and means 4for controlling the step-by-step movement of said key carriage under the biasing -action of said spring.

13. A key punching machine as defined in claim -11 in which said -key-'blank-retaining means includes a shoulder on said key carriage 'and means for holding the blade of said key Iblank t-hereagainst, and a lock :member pivoted to said key carriage holding said key blank against longitudinal movement relative to said key carriage.

114. A key punching machine as defined in claim v13 in which said key blank includes a shoulder, and in which said -key-blankretaining means Iincludes `a stop means engaging said -shoulder of said key blank to retain said key blank in rxed position between said lock member and said stop means.

`15. A key punching machine as defined in claim 11 in which said means for `operatively lconnecting Said control dial and said die member includes `a `threaded portion on said control dial, an internally threaded block surrounding said threaded portion, and means for connecting said block to said die member.

16. A ykey punching machine -as dened in claim 11 including a second control dial on the lother end of said shaft, at least one of -said control dials providing indicia, and including detent means stopping the motion ott said dials at predetermined rotary positions.

17. A key punching machine as dened in lclaim 116 including a housing providing side openings coaxial Wit-h said control dials through which said dials protrude, said housing having a handle slot -for -said handle, said handle extending rearwardly gener-ally parallel t-o the direction of movement of said key carriage, said housing providing also a key-blankainserting slot -giving access to said `keya'blankretaining means when said key carriage is in -a `rearward position.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 6/1910 Jensen 83-628 l/1927 Loehr et al 83-917 X 

1. IN A KEY PUNCHING MACHINE THE COMBINATION OF: A FRAME STRUCTURE PROVIDING A PUNCH STATION; A DIE MEMBER AT SAID PUNCH STATION; A PUNCH MEMBER AT SAID PUNCH STATION MOVABLE RELATIVE TO SAID DIE MEMBER; A KEY CARRIAGE HAVING MEANS FOR RETAINING A KEY BLANK THEREON; MEANS FOR MOUNTING SAID KEY CARRIAGE FOR LONGITUDINAL ADVANCEMENT TO ADVANCE SAID KEY BLANK PAST SAID PUNCH STATION; OPERATING MEANS FOR RELATIVELY MOVING SAID DIE AND PUNCH MEMBERS IN SHEARING RELATION WITH SAID KEY BLANK TO PUNCH A NOTCH THEREIN; MEANS RESPONSIVE TO MOVEMENT OF SAID OPERATING MEANS FOR ADVANCING SAID KEY CARRIAGE STEP-BY-STEP PAST SAID PUNCH STATION, SAID LAST-MENTIONED MEANS INCLUDING A SPRING BIASING SAID KEY CARRIAGE TO MOVE SAID KEY CARRIAGE AND THE KEY BLANK LONGITUDINALLY PAST SAID PUNCH MEMBER AND AN ESCAPEMENT MEANS CONTROLLING THE STEP-BY-STEP MOVEMENT OF SAID KEY CARRIAGE UNDER THE BIASING ACTION OF SAID SPRING; AND MEANS FOR CHANGING THE RELATIVE LATERAL POSITION OF SAID KEY BLANK AND SAID DIE AND PUNCH MEMBERS THAT ARE AT SAID PUNCH STATION TO VARY THE DEPTH OF THE NOTCH PUNCHED IN SAID KEY BLANK BY SAID DIE AND PUNCH MEMBERS. 